Cafe Kestrel
Restaurant · Red Hook
293 Van Brunt St, Brooklyn, NY 11231
Highlights
White tablecloth dining with unfussy, seasonal small plates.
White tablecloth dining with unfussy, seasonal small plates.
"Café Kestrel occupies a diminutive space in Brooklyn's Red Hook neighborhood, but what is lacks in size it more than makes up for with thoughtful culinary executions and warm, refined service. At once casual and elegant, the tightly edited menu sports French leaning, pan-European selections with small bites like baguettes and chilled shrimp to larger terrines, salads and a broad list of entrées. Many dishes become instant favorites, as in the sage-infused fried halloumi served over honey Main dishes include duck leg confit with rich, creamy rutabaga puree and candied kumquats or a seafood terrine with crème fraîche and crispy, golden gaufrettes. Dessert is non-negotiable, especially the apricot cake with caramel sauce." - Michelin Inspector
"Cafe Kestrel is a (barely) 20-seat restaurant that feels like it could only ever exist in Red Hook. The all-white restaurant on Van Brunt Street has a sign out front that states the hours “for now,” a martini simply named the V. Cold Martini, and a constantly revolving menu that might feature swordfish slick with anchovy butter, and always features a sharp, rich, saucy mac and cheese. Come for an unserious night in a precious little room, and if it happens to be a Sunday evening, order the curry." - willa moore, hannah albertine
"Like many things in Red Hook, Cafe Kestrel feels like one of those places that could only ever exist in that neighborhood. The dollhouse-sized spot on Van Brunt Street has white-tiled floors, white lace curtains, dainty plates on white tablecloths, and servers in white chore coats who will tell you that Sunday night is curry night in an excited whisper." - molly fitzpatrick, bryan kim, willa moore, will hartman, sonal shah
"Tucked away in Red Hook, Cafe Kestrel is tiny with just a few tables, but redolent with a quiet confidence that feels years in the making, from chef Dennis Spina. This is a white tablecloth establishment, yes, but in an old-fashioned linger-awhile espresso-after-dinner way. The food is unfussy: fried squash blossoms, chicken with capers and dates (ideal for fans of chicken piccata), and applesauce sundaes for dessert. Know before you go: The restaurant is perfect for regulars, which means that those fortunate enough to have been enveloped by it seem to be doing their darndest to keep it lowkey. And for good reason: We want to be able to get in again." - Emma Orlow
"Cafe Kestrel opened last summer in a Red Hook space that has housed several other food businesses over the years. It’s a lovely little storefront with just a few tables that feel right for a date night. Owner-chef Dennis Spina, years back, was known for Roebling Tea Room, and more recently, the kitchen at Metrograph. Standouts over visits included the fried squash blossoms, the chicken with carrots and capers (sort of a piccata play), as well as an apple sauce sundae. It’s a new restaurant that feels like it's been there forever in the best way possible." - Emma Orlow
